MFWI Extension Writing Class

From November 13 th to 16 th , our Extension students visited Portland, Oregon. It is rainy weather almost every day, but fortunately, we were blessed with fine weather. Portland is famous as place where we don’t have to pay for tax. Portland also has the largest outdoor arts and crafts market in the U.S. I was able to get a lot of good shopping done. Other than that, I visited tons of places. I learned about trail, students who study Japanese, history, and war. This trip was memorable and beneficial to me, especially because of three things. Lovely memories First of all, I visited Columbia Basin College and encountered delightful students. In fact, I was not excited about this visit. Before this trip started, I visited office of Mr. Mukumoto because I have some troubles. It was that I was not good at having a conversation. Recently I felt unpleasant for conversation. I had thought my speaking skill worse than last semester, so I visited Mr. Mukumoto to get advice. He said

It has passed half of semester since I came here. I have had a large number of impressive experiences such as classes, events, tours. These were more marvelous than last semester. The most helpful experience which made me mature as a person is Southwest trip. Then, I saw tons of people, cultures, traditions, arts, landscape, and nature. Through this trip, I learned prominent thing and got superb ability.   First of all, I learned the importance of understanding another culture. The most surprising and memorable thing is culture of Acoma Pueblo. Our Extension students visited Sky City. Then, I saw Native American. They sold pretty products which was handmade. They were products which they didn’t seem handmade. I knew their skill to produce was so high. Unbelievably, they have believed that camera take their soul away. This point is totally different from Japanese. At that time, I learned there are people with many kind of thoughts in the world. The thoughts attracted my interest. I

In Portland, there are many shopping places using interesting ways to sell items, that is, Uwajimaya, Tebo’s, and Portland Saturday Market, because these stores have tried to connect items and people for three reasons.   Uwajimaya is an Asian grocery store, specializing in Japanese items. The store has purposes to connect Japan and people, American people and Japanese people. According to a buyer, Hiroki, who is a second generation Japanese-American, it was more important for more people to try new Japanese goods than to think about the store’s profit. It is the reason customers will come back to buy these goods again, if the goods are nice. As a result, more and more people will be interested in Japan. The store also has a good role for Japanese who live in America for a long time, like us, because someone including me really misses Japanese food. The store gives us some experiences to remind us of our country. This shop has two purposes. The store is good to know about

              I was able to spent a few precious days during the Portland trip thanks to my great friends, teachers and the bus driver, Matt. I could experience precious things and enjoy spending time in Oregon. It was totally amazing and I was touched by many things throughout this trip.                 First of all, I was really glad to visit two different schools on this trip. On the first day, we visited Columbia Basin College and talked with students who are learning Japanese as a second language. My partner was fascinated by Japanese, he showed his interest in my presentation topic because it was about Kanji, Japanese language. He asked me some interesting questions and told me why he thinks Kanji is interesting for him. It was really nice talking with him. On the second day, we visited Portland English Language Academy. At this school, the students are learning English as a second language, so it was a little different atmosphere from CBC. I talked with a Saudi Ara

Portland trip was an absolutely precious trip to learn, feel and touch with different culture. First of all, visiting the Portland English Language Academy (PELA) was a beneficial time and a great opportunity to learn different country’s culture. My partner from at PELA students was a man who was from Saudi Arabia. He taught me some information about his country’s special culture which I had never heard. First, in Saudi Arabia, a school is completely divided by the same sex. For example, there are schools for only males or for only females in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is new for him to take a class with female students in the same. However, I was wondering how Arabic men made their girlfriends or wives. According to him, in Saudi Arabian culture, the touching between men and women is not allowed and they can’t meet each other until they get married. My partner was married but he had never had a girlfriend in his life, because his faith which we can have only wife was very strong.

Our Extension student went to Portland trip on November 13 to 16. We got many great experiences in Portland and Oregon, for example, visits to Columbia Basin College, Mcloughlin house, and the oregon historical society. I have three highlights about my absolutely fabulous Portland trip. First, I really enjoyed The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center on first day. I saw real gun first time in my life and also one of center’s guide show us that gun shooting. I was really surprised because the sound of a gunshot was very laud. I leaned amazing history about Lewis and Clark’s expedition. I read one of interesting article. It was about their camp. In the 863 days of the expedition, the corps made over 600 camps. When they made it, they used 12 hours for 1 camp and also before departure the next day, they repacked everything. This history was really interesting for me because I saw replica of their camp. It was simple design but need a lot of time. I couldn't believe it. My best picture

Traveling in Portland is beneficial to study about the U.S. Portland is a big city, so many people go to Portland for shopping or for business. However, it is also a good place to learn history. Through this trip, I went to many places and all of them had interesting history. You can learn a lot of interesting histories in Portland. Especially, history about Lewis and Clark, the relationships between settlers and Native Americans, and Japanese-Americans in World War II are very significant facts to learn in Portland.     First of all, Portland is a good place to learn about Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark were leaders of the Corps of Discovery which was sent to Oregon by President Thomas Jefferson to survey the lands. In Portland, there are a lot of museums about them. In these museums, you can see the items they used such as furs for trade, or journals of the survey. One of the interesting exhibits is a wagon. During the survey, they used wagons to carry items. In the museum, yo

  The time that I spent in America is quickly passing. I had a great time with many people so far in classes and out of classes. Today, I have  two points of a  fundamental principal for my American life. They are my treasures that I focused on faithfully. First of all, I got special experiences through the Language Culture Day (LCD) class. Once a week, we had a opportunity to discuss each topics we chose with guests who have some connection with their topics. Such as gun control, international marriage, volunteerism, and so on. I was particularly interested in the topic "teenage dieting and body image", and I had a great time to discuss the topic with wonderful guests. Until that LCD class, I was very worried about gaining weight in America because when I was in Japan, I was on a strict diet that I didn't eat anything for 2 months. I had not noticed that I was standing on a start line of eating disorders. From that talk with guests who have experienced anorexia and bul

     I had never gone to another country until last semester, so I was not good at talking with the people who I didn't know before I went to the U.S. However, I could change my mind and get new world in my mind. This experience is my treasure.       First of all, American are very friendly, outgoing, talkative, more so than Japanese people so I could talk with a lot of people who I didn't know around Spokane.    For example, a man began to talk with me during the flight from Seattle to Spokane. I was very confused and nervous because I was afraid of speaking English. However, he was very friendly, and asked me," Where are you from? Why are you going to Spokane?" I was surprised because I couldn't speak English fluently, but he listened to me very carefully without getting angry.    Also, this conversation was very exciting for me. Then, I began to think, “It is exciting to talk with people who I don't know”.    I want to say to him, “Thank you for changi

    This trip was SO marvelous for me and I could learn tons of things such as different cultures, food, people, weather, and buildings. I don't think about Spokane and South America are same country. Also, we had many troubles which we couldn't go to Arizona on the first day and we used the second day just for moving from Spokane to Albuquerque. However, the travelling became my fabulous memory because of such a big troubles.      First of all, I went to Arizona via Route 66 to go to the Acoma school. It was very interested for me to be the differences of culture in school. The students showed us traditional dance. It was unexpected because I thought the dance was like jazz or no singing but they played traditional instruments and sang traditional songs and danced. I was very surprised at them. Also, a song lyrics was difficult for me. I think it was not English. However, they shouted like animal’s voices. I was surprised at them. The last song was sung in English. The song

The Exotic Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is an exotic place. Everything looks tiny, Pure, clean air surrounds me, However there is an active surface, Bird song makes me relaxed, Tasting time stop, The Grand Canyon is a marvelous product of nature.

     In this year, I've experienced the life and culture of Australia last New Year season, the U.S. last spring, my home country in Japan in June and July, and about two weeks at the end of August in lovely Australia. Now, I've been stayed in the U.S. again this semester. As you can see, this year has been offered me a lot of places to live. Today, I'd love to tell you how I've changed and what I've noticed about myself.      First of all, through my tough life last February to May in the highest section where classes were way more academic and had tons of assignments that I had to challenge myself and suffered every day, but I noticed that everything is a state of mind. So if I think I can do it, I can do whatever I want. For example, I did all of the homework in a day. Sometimes it was so hard to accomplish because I barely slept plus I wanted to participate in classes enthusiastically. But that experience made me stronger than ever and gave me a lot of confi

The Grand Canyon fulfills me. Staring as it awakens, Navajo tacos intrigue my appetite, Layers of rock evoke ancient times, Bluebirds tweet sweetly, flit freely, Tasting Native Americans’ Mother Nature spirit, Hazy rocks and sunset pierce my five senses fully.

Travel is Absolutely My Treasure What is the purpose of travels? We just enjoy traveling? I thought so before I came here. However, I could learn tons of historical things, cultural observations, and good friends from this trip. I especially like Columbia Basin College, a Japanese American Memorial, and Portland State University. First, I could make awesome friends at Columbia Basin College. I always feel nervous before I enter a class because my pronunciation is not good and I’m not good at talking with people I don’t know. However, they were very kind and talkative so I had a good time with them. Also, I talked two people, they were interested in Japanese culture so I could teach our culture and get American cultures. Moreover, I could present my topic. They told to me a lot of new information. For instance, they knew about American Symbols so we could compare Japanese symbols with American Symbols. It was very enjoyable. Also, Japanese people don’t say some words in front of a